Dolphins, Bucs Start Preseason With Wins - Florida Today

Latest updated news about Dolphins, Bucs Start Preseason With Wins from Florida Today
Phillip Livas scored on a 75-yard punt return in the third quarter to help Miami overcome a difficult start by quarterback Chad Henne in the Dolphins' 28-23 preseason victory against the host Atlanta Falcons on Friday night.

Not to be outdone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into Arrowhead Stadium and came out with a 25-0 romp against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Dolphins trailed 17-0 at one point in their game. Henne threw interceptions on two of Miami's first three possessions before connecting with Brian Hartline for a 44-yard touchdown pass that made it 17-7 early in the second quarter.

Henne, who completed 4-of-8 passes for 77 yards, did his best work against defensive reserves.

For the Dolphins, who host Carolina at home next week and open the regular season at home Sept. 12 against New England, it was more a matter of who didn't play as coach Tony Sparano decided to avoid injury risk.

Running back Reggie Bush, receiver Brandon Marshall and defensive end Jason Taylor wore uniforms, but not helmets, and stood on the sideline. Left tackle Jake Long wasn't in uniform.

Daniel Thomas started in Bush's place and ran four times for 5 yards. Davone Bess subbed for Marshall and caught two passes for 8 yards.

Miami is coming off a 7-9 season after which Dolphins owner Stephen Ross considered firing Sparano but brought him back when Jim Harbaugh took the San Francisco job.

Freeman, meanwhile, was smooth and efficient while leading Tampa Bay to points on three of the four series he played, and the third-year quarterback helped the Buccaneers take advantage of every bobble and blunder that the Chiefs made.

Freeman was 9-of-13 for 73 yards while playing for the first time at Arrowhead Stadium, just a few miles from where he grew into a high school star. He also ran 5 yards for a score.

Backup Josh Johnson looked like veteran Michael Vick against the Chiefs' backups, completing 7-of-12 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. He also scrambled five times for 57 yards, showing a lot of open-field elusiveness and causing the Kansas City defense fits.

The game figured to be sloppy after the NFL lockout wiped away the offseason. Teams have only been together for about two weeks, and veteran free agents couldn't even practice until last Thursday because of new language in the collective bargaining agreement.

Kansas City had barely worked out in pads, and coach Todd Haley decided not to scrimmage during camp, wary that too much hitting too early might result in unnecessary injuries.

It wasn't much surprise that the Chiefs looked unprepared.

Quinten Lawrence made a poor decision to bring the opening kickoff out of the endzone, getting wrestled down at the 8. The Chiefs went three-and-out on their first possession, fumbled on their next two, and watched backup quarterback Tyler Palko get sacked for a safety on another.

Freeman needed only two plays to turn the first fumble into a touchdown, then led Tampa Bay on an eight-play drive that Connor Barth capped with a 25-yard field goal.

Barth added another field goal later in the half before Palko's safety made it 15-0.

Things didn't improve for Kansas City in the second half.

Tampa Bay marched right down field against the Chiefs' backups, putting together a nine-play, 55-yard drive that resulted in a 3-yard pass from Josh Johnson to Michael Spurlock and a 22-0 lead.

Backup kicker Jacob Rogers added a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth.

Freeman is trying to build on a breakout season in which he threw for 3,451 yards and 25 touchdowns. The tall, strong-armed quarterback has looked sharp all camp, and he certainly carried the momentum right into his first preseason game. Freeman checked off when warranted, eluded a feeble Kansas City pass rush when necessary and deftly managed the offense when he was in the game.

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris planned to play his starters about 20 plays, so Freeman was done early in the second quarter. But that didn't stop the Bucs from churning out offense.

Just about the only positive for the Chiefs was that none of the starters got hurt.

They didn't have much chance.

Cassel was on the field for four plays and didn't throw a pass. Running back Jamaal Charles, who ran for 1,467 yards a year ago, didn't have a carry. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe didn't make a catch.

Defensive end Tamba Hali, the Chiefs' franchise player who signed to a five-year, $60 million contract during training camp, looked awfully good standing on the sideline. He was among several players for both teams who did little more than dress for the game.

Just In Time For The New NFL Season, Taptu Brings Fantasy Football ToMobile ... - Washington Post

Latest updated news about Just In Time For The New NFL Season, Taptu Brings Fantasy Football ToMobile from Washington Post

By TechCrunch.com,

From its founding in 2007, Taptu was a startup that specialized in search and touch-based interfaces for mobile, launching a realtime mobile search engine in conjunction with OneRiot back in 2009, for example. In November of last year, the startup made the smart decision to bring its mobile search proficiency into the news reader market, launching Flipboard-like Android and iPhone apps that brought an interesting value proposition to bear on the burgeoning mobile reader market: Users could aggregate more than 5,000 mixed streams — no paltry number, and far more than that offered by the competition.

In April, Taptu launched on the iPad with a sleek and clean design that, again, worked to differentiate itself from competitors like Flipboard, Pulse, Flud (and perhaps Editions) by bringing its proprietary mobile search tech to bear on the aggregation of thousands of news sources, rather than relying on those tired RSS feeds.

As some readers may know, the National Football League had been in the grips of a contentious lockout that put the 2011 season in jeopardy. The owners and players were recently able to come to terms, ending the lockout on July 25th, and allowing the pigskin show to go on. Seeing as football is back on, not wanting to miss out on a golden opportunity to expand their feature set, Taptu is today entering into a new athletic domain with the launch of a NFL fantasy football news stream for Taptu users on both smartphones and tablets. The new stream enables fans to receive updates on every critical stat and news item in realtime, allowing fantasy footballers to field a competitive team each and every week.

As my colleague MG wrote last week, the sports world has largely been underrepresented on tablets and news readers, because ESPN (the behemoth of sports content) has basically been absent from the space — at least in terms of partnering with other developers or startups to syndicate their content. But last week, Pulse dropped a bomb on the news reader tablet market by announcing that it was the first player in the space to receive an infusion of ESPN content, along with existing content from Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, and so on.

While this was a big win for Pulse, there is still an even more coveted, niche demographic that remains underrepresented on tablets, which would be none other than fantasy sports. Fantasy sports are currently played by over 27 million Americans; it’s becoming an increasingly popular pastime (and money maker). And for those who are involved, or have friends who play, fantasy sports are by and large a rabid group.

Though it depends on the sport, in order to field the best team each week, fantasy sports players have to consume a lot of information about who’s playing well, including what players are injured, or under-performing, etc. Fantasy sports enthusiasts consume a lot of news and statistics, they do their homework, like analysts, or enterprising journalists — obviously a great customer to have if you’re a mobile startup.

Over the next 30 days, loads of football fans will be building out their teams on their desktops and mobile devices in preparation for the start of the season. And now, thanks to Taptu, those fans no longer have to visit multiple websites to get the lowdown on a trade or injury. Plus, Taptu’s fantasy feature lets users mix and match from football’s big publications and blogs into one stream, making the information easy to read and glance over.

And, in a nose-thumbing at Pulse, Taptu will feature breaking news from ESPN, SB Nation, Fox and CBS Sports, among others. To find the app’s fantasy football stream, users simply go to the “Stream Store” and look for the fantasy football icon, click “+”, and the stream will be added to a user’s news collection. As before, Taptu is available for free on iOS (here) as well as Android phones and tablets (here).

Ozzie Guillen: Carlos Zambrano Is embarrassed - Chicago Sun-Times

Latest updated sport news about Ozzie Guillen: Carlos Zambrano Is  embarrassed  from Chicago Sun-Times

BY TONI GINNETTI tginnetti@suntimes.com

Johnny Giavotella slides safely into first as Brent Lillibridge reaches for the tag in the second. | John Gress~Getty Images

Updated: August 13, 2011 10:17PM

The latest transgression by Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano “is a very bad and very sad situation,’’ White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Saturday.

“I can talk from both ways, as a manager and his friend,” Guillen said. “It’s tough on how a manager would handle that because he’s very intense about respect, loyalty. On the other side, this kid has a lot of pride. This kid’s embarrassed. This kid wants to be good, and I think he feels like he’s not doing his job.’’

Venezuelans Guillen and Zambrano are close, and Guillen said the Cubs pitcher talked to his wife briefly Friday night after his unannounced departure from a game in Atlanta after being ejected. Guillen said he didn’t speak to Zambrano, who was placed on a disqualified list Saturday without pay for at least 30 days.

“I don’t take anything away from what people say [about Zambrano], but I don’t think too many people know why or they don’t know why he’s acting that way,’’ Guillen said. “Whatever people say I respect and he should respect. It’s just a very, very tough situation because he’s one of the best pitchers they have.’’

Zambrano’s last outburst last season happened at U.S. Cellular Field against the Sox, that being the dugout tirade against teammate Derrek Lee that led to Zambrano’s suspension and mandated anger management counseling. That night, Zambrano kept a planned dinner with Guillen and his family.

Guillen said Zambrano, who started a charitable foundation this year, is “a great guy’’, but he added “it gets to the point of enough is enough.

“What can I say? Hopefully today he feels a little bit better. He should feel embarrassed, he should regret what he said or what he did, but I don’t think he said anything bad. There’s a lot of people thinking [about] what he said [retiring]. I did a lot. You know how many times I wanted to quit? But I can’t because I love this game. So does he.

“I guarantee you in two or three more days, he’ll be thinking, ‘Oh my God, what I did?’ And believe me, I don’t know why, I don’t know what really happened, but I guarantee he’ll feel more embarrassed than anything. Knowing him, I’m pretty sure that’s the way he’ll feel.’’

Guillen said the situation “is the Cubs problem,’’ adding, “Obviously it’s going to be hard, but just stick with him. Listen to what he says.’’

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Only once did Guillen directly discipline a player he felt violated team rules, when he sent home relief pitcher Damaso Marte late in the 2005 season for reporting to the park late without advanced permission. Marte was allowed back days later but was traded after the season.

“I packed his bag out of my clubhouse,” Guillen said. “He deserved it. He didn’t respect my rules the team rules.

“On this ball club, it’s not going to happen,’’ he added of a situation like Zambrano’s. “I know my players and I think we respect each other. Like I’ve said in the past, hate me, love me, I don’t care. But one thing — respect. That’s all I care about with players. And win games for me. That’s what I get paid for. Every manager does.’’

Notes

Adam Dunn left the team because of the death of an uncle. Guillen said he would return Tuesday for the start of the Cleveland series.

??Catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who was hit on the left wrist Friday, also is expected to play again Tuesday after Monday’s off day.

Rhode Island Beats Massachusetts 13-7 To Reach Little League WorldSeries - Washington Post

Latest updated news about Rhode Island beats Massachusetts 13-7 to reach Little League World Series from AP

By Associated Press,

BRISTOL, Conn. — Ryan McCormick homered twice and drove in six runs, and Rhode Island beat Massachusetts 13-7 on Saturday to advance to the Little League World Series.

Cumberland American of Rhode Island won the New England Region championship and will open the Little League World Series against the West Region winner, either Northern California or Southern California.

Chris Wright, Max Hanuschak and Jake Glod also homered for Rhode Island, which went 4-2 in the tournament and beat Massachusetts twice.

Daniel Walsh homered and finished with three hits for Andover National. Cedric Gillette also had three hits for the Massachusetts team.

Andover National scored three times in the first inning but Cumberland American responded with eight runs in the bottom half. McCormick led off with a drive to center, Wright hit a three-run shot and McCormick added a two-out grand slam.

“Ryan McCormick’s leadoff homer, after that I knew we were coming and we did,” Rhode Island manager David Belisle said. “Ryan’s the key to our offense and he’s been on it the last three days and he showed it today.”

McCormick went 8 for 10 with three homers and seven RBIs in three straight wins that sent a team from Cumberland to Williamsport for the first time.

Hanuschak hit a solo shot in the fourth and Glod belted a two-run drive to right in the fifth.

“They came out swinging,” Massachusetts manager Paul Finn said. “I got to give Cumberland a tremendous amount of credit. They mashed the ball today. Even their subs were hitting shots all over the place. That’s a great hitting team.”

The Little League World Series starts on Thursday in Williamsport, Pa.

Green Bay Packers & Mason Crosby Resumes Kicking Duties - Green BayPress Gazette

Latest updated news about Green Bay Packers & Mason Crosby Resumes Kicking Duties from Green BayPress Gazette
CLEVELAND — Kicker Mason Crosby’s injured ankle on his plant foot wasn’t at full strength but was good enough for him to kick for the Packers in their 27-17 loss in a preseason game Saturday night against the Cleveland Browns.

Crosby had rolled his left ankle while planting his foot on a kickoff in practice a little over a week ago and sat out the Family Night scrimmage the next night. He didn’t return to practice until he worked on a limited basis Thursday night, then two days later handled all the Packers’ kicks against the Browns.

Crosby made his lone field goal attempt, from 31 yards; hit both extra-point attempts; and four kickoffs.

“We’ll see how it is tomorrow when I get up,” Crosby said after the game. “But I feel like I hit the ball well, was able to plant pretty good.”

Crosby averaged 71.7 yards on his second kickoffs, which with the new kickoff point from the 35 meant he averaged hitting the kickoffs almost seven yards deep in the end zone. The Browns returned all of the kicks, but their best starting point was only their 21.

“It was nice to hit the kickoffs the way I did without feeling like I was really trying to go after it,” Crosby said. “So get this thing fully recovered in the next week or so, and then hopefully I’ll be able to get them out of the end zone so they’re not trying to bring them out at all.”

It’s unclear whether Crosby will take off any practice time this week to let his ankle heal more fully. The Packers’ next exhibition game is Friday night at home against Arizona.

“We’ll have to see how it feels in the morning and form a plan for this week,” Crosby said. “But definitely want to get over this so for the rest of the season we don’t have any issues. I’m taking it as it comes and how it responds planting it and getting after it. Was able to get through a game and kick the ball with a minimal amount of feeling it. so that was a good thing.”

Other injuries

Coach Mike McCarthy said the Packers had three injuries of unknown severity in Saturday night’s exhibition opener against Cleveland.

(Page 2 of 3)


Tight end Andrew Quarless injured his groin, running back James Starks his ankle and tight end Tom Crabtree his ribs.

McCarthy said he didn’t know if Quarless’ injury is serious.

“Tomorrow’s evaluation will always tell the story,” McCarthy said, “particularly on those fatigue injuries.”

Starks rolled his ankle but said after the game he had no swelling and wasn’t walking with any kind of limp.

Meeting the president

The Packers’ brief time inside the halls of power on Friday included a glimpse of just how busy a man President Barack Obama is.

Before and during the ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn to celebrate the Packers’ Super Bowl win last February, the team’s traveling party spent 15 minutes, at most, with the president. Team president Mark Murphy, General Manager Ted Thompson and McCarthy met privately with the president for about three minutes before Obama’s speech, and then walked to the podium on the South Lawn with him. After the speech the president shook hands with every member of the team’s approximately 150-person traveling party.

“Intimidating in a way,” said Thompson in describing being inside the White House and on the South Lawn. “You know there’s serious business being taken up, and the president’s an unbelievably busy guy, every minute of his day is accounted for. I certainly think the team, the organization and the players got a kick out of it and knew they were able to do something really special.”

Thompson said Obama’s brief conversation with him, Murphy and McCarthy essentially consisted of the president congratulating them on winning the Super Bowl, and them saying thank you.

“I was very impressed with him as a person,” Thompson said. “He looks you right in the eye, he listens. I know he has to be a politician, but I can see why people like him when they meet him. I was impressed with him.”

The Packers weren’t able to visit the White House in May or June, when most Super Bowl winners do, because the NFL owners lockout prohibited contact between teams and players. If the Packers had visited in the spring, they also probably would have visited the Supreme Court. Apparently the court’s chief justice, John Roberts, is a big Packers fan even though he was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and grew up in Indiana.

(Page 3 of 3)


“I know he called to offer to bring us to the Supreme Court and let us sit on the (bench) and all that,” Thompson said. “And there are other things you’d like to do, so you schedule a couple-day trip, and take everybody, including guys (who signed) with other teams. But it wasn’t to be.”

When the lockout ended, the Packers offered the White House several dates to visit, but Friday was the only one that fit with the president’s schedule. The Packers had to cancel a practice McCarthy had scheduled for Friday.

When asked if he’s concerned about the missed practice and the detour in the team’s traveling schedule, Thompson said: “I don’t think so. But we’ve about put (the Super Bowl) to bed, quite frankly. This was important enough for us to make the effort. We appreciate the White House making the effort, because it’s not easy for them to schedule something like this.”

Saturday night scratches

Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Sam Shields, and tight end Jermichael Finley were among the 11 Packers players scratched from Saturday night’s game. Woodson by all appearances was healthy and getting the night off to avoid injury and allow other players more time on the field. Shields injured his hip Thursday night in practice, and Finley has been out with a glute injury.

The other scratches were because of injuries: receiver Brett Swain (hamstring), halfback Alex Green (hamstring), safety Brandon Underwood (knee), cornerback Davon House (hamstring), linebacker Diyral Briggs, defensive end Chris Donaldson (shoulder), guard Adrian Battles (Achilles), tackle Chris Campbell (shoulder).

Cleveland’s scratches included two possible starters, safety Usama Young and weak-side linebacker Chris Gocong.

Lineup notes

Frank Zombo started at right outside linebacker ahead of Erik Walden and played both series with the No. 1 defense.

With Woodson not playing and Shields unavailable, the Packers’ starting cornerbacks were Tramon Williams and Jarrett Bush. Pat Lee was the third cornerback in the nickel. With the No. 2 defense, Bush and Lee played in the base personnel, and Josh Gordy was the No. 3 cornerback in the nickel.

The No. 2 offensive line consisted of Derek Sherrod at left tackle, T.J. Lang at left guard, Nick McDonald at center, Caleb Schlauderaff at right guard and Marshall Newhouse at right tackle.

Kimbo Slice Returns To Action Tonight As A Boxer - Yahoo! Sports (blog)

Latest updated news about Kimbo Slice Returns To Action Tonight As A Boxer from Yahoo! Sports (blog)
The last time we saw legendary street fighter Kimbo Slice he was wincing in pain after taking a bevy of leg kicks from Matt Mitrione. The UFC decided to cut bait and release Kimbo after UFC 113. It's been 15 months since the 37-year-old has seen any sanctioned fight action. Tonight, he climbs back in there, but it's in a ring not a cage.
The fighter who cut his teeth on the streets is ready to strap on the big gloves.

"I'm ready to go baby, my blood is boiling," Slice told the Miami Herald. "I was born to fight and [mess] people up."

Kimbo faces James Wade (0-1) at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla. He makes his pro boxing debut in a four-rounder. Kimbo is the main event on seven-fight card. Surprisingly, Showtime Super Six participant Allen Green is also on the docket on the undercard.

Slice has high hopes for his boxing career. A 235-pounder, Kimbo says the heavyweight division needs an action fighter.

"The problem with heavyweights now is they don't have that fighting mentality," Slice said. "I am a nonstop fighter. My thing is nonstop aggression. When you fight me, two things are going to happen — I'm going to knock you out or you're going to knock me out."

Former UFC fighter Charles McCarthy mans the mic for this solid sitdown with Kimbo. Part two is here.

Michele Bachmann Vs Rick Perry Vs Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Poll:Prospects - TimesWireService

Latest updated news about Michele Bachmann Vs Rick Perry Vs Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Poll:Prospects from TimesWireService
Michele Bachmann vs Rick Perry vs Ron Paul 2012 Presidential poll. This is the most likely fight emerging for GOP nomination to take on President Obama

Texas Governor Rick Perry has announced his plan to run for the Republican nomination for 2012 Presidential race. Mr. Perry lashed out severe criticism against the incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama for his failures in financially controlling the nation.
Perry blamed Barack Obama for the Standard & Poor’s downgrade of the U.S.A to AA+. He launched massive criticism against Obama for the country’s whopping unemployment rate and financial deficit. 
Talking to a friendly crowd in South Carolina, he revealed his plan to become a Republican candidate against Obama in the 2012 Presidential election. Obama has already given signs for his possible second run to the White House in 2012.
“I declare to you today as a candidate for President of the United States,” Perry said. “It's time to get America working again,” the Texas Governor said. He argued that “recovery is a meaningless word if the bank has foreclosed on your home.”
Perry touted his victory in producing more jobs in the state. He added that 40 percent of America’s jobs since 2009 were created in Texas because of his efforts.
“You cannot win the future by selling America off to foreign creditors,” Perry said in criticism against Obama’s financial policies. He added that Change in America, Obama’s campaign slogan, should come to people, not in White House.
Republicans and Tea Party activists have been extensively blaming Obama for his incapability to solve the worse financial conditions. America is suffering from huge financial crisis with unemployment rate remaining over 9 for a long period.

Once A Fringe Candidate, Paul Shaping 2012 Race - NPR

Latest updated news about Once A Fringe Candidate, Paul Shaping 2012 Race from NPR
DES MOINES, Iowa August 14, 2011, 05:47 pm ET

Ron Paul, once seen as a fringe candidate and a nuisance to the establishment, is shaping the 2012 Republican primary by giving voice to the party's libertarian wing and reflecting frustration with the United States' international entanglements.

The Texas congressman placed second in a key early test vote Saturday in Ames, coming within 152 votes of winning the first significant balloting of the Republican nominating contest. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won the nonbinding Iowa straw poll, but Paul's organizational strength and a retooled focus on social issues set him up to be a serious player in the campaign.

"I believe in a very limited role for government. But the prime reason that government exists in a free society is to protect liberty, but also to protect life. And I mean all life," he told a raucous crowd on Saturday.

"You cannot have relative value for life and deal with that. We cannot play God and make those decisions. All life is precious," he said, opening his remarks with an anti-abortion appeal to the social conservatives who have great sway here in Iowa's leadoff caucuses.

Later Saturday, Paul won 4,671 votes, or roughly 28 percent of the votes from party activists who flocked to a college campus for the daylong political carnival

Paul's narrow second-place finish pushed former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty down to third, leading Pawlenty on Sunday to abandon his effort to challenge President Barack Obama next November.

Four years ago, Paul sought the GOP nomination while talking about economic policy, liberty and the Federal Reserve. Since then, the tea party has risen and seized on those issues, and some regard Paul as one of the movement's godfathers.

"The country's bankrupt, and nobody wanted to admit it. And when you're bankrupt, you can't keep spending," Paul said Thursday during a Fox News Channel debate.

He may lack the broad appeal that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Texas Gov. Rick Perry are claiming, but Paul's finish Saturday indicated he could compete.

Paul typically does well in such straw polls, which rely on supporters' intensity and organization. His base helped him win straw polls at June's Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans and February's Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, and his followers organize online to ensure strong finishes at any contest they can find.

It is part of their effort to get rid of the notion that Paul is a fringe candidate.

Paul's 2008 campaign came up far short of better organized rivals. This time, his advisers are putting together a more serious effort that taps into voters' frustrations with Washington and the fears about the economy.

His aides are working within the system instead of against it. For instance, Paul's base camp for the Iowa straw poll was at the same location Romney used in 2007. Romney won that straw poll after investing heavily from his deep pockets for the prime real estate.

Paul's campaign notes that it won more votes this year than Romney won four years ago during his first bid for the GOP nomination. This year, Romney didn't actively campaign during the straw poll; instead, he is looking at a campaign launch in New Hampshire, which hosts the first primary after Iowa's leadoff caucuses.

Still, Paul finds himself outside the bounds of traditional Republicans. His opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan defines him as a dove. His skepticism toward the Federal Reserve has spooked Wall Street. And his libertarian views on gay rights draw the ire of social conservatives.

He also tweaks Republicans on foreign policy, arguing it isn't the United States' role to police Iran's nuclear program or to enforce an embargo with Cuba.

"Iran is not Iceland, Ron," former Sen. Rick Santorum told Paul during Thursday's debate.

Paul also proves a reliable foil for Democrats.

"In previous presidential campaigns, we might have chalked extreme fringe-type candidates like Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul as an anomaly, (and) the Ames straw poll didn't mean as much," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

"But we're looking at the core of the Republican Party now. The heart of the Republican Party is the extreme right wing," she told CNN.

Paul, a 75-year-old doctor by training, is not backing down.

"These straw poll results, our growing poll numbers and our strong fundraising show that our message is resonating with Iowans and Americans everywhere," campaign chairman Jesse Benton said. "Our message was the same in 2007 as it is now in 2011, but this time we have quadrupled our support. That means our message is spreading, our support is surging and people are taking notice."

Virtual Golfers File Real Class Action - Courthouse News Service

Latest sport news about Virtual Golfers File Real Class Action from Courthouse News Service

Virtual Golfers File Real Class Action

     FREEHOLD, N.J. (CN) - Virtual golfers say in a class action that Electronic Arts sold them the game "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters," without telling them they would have to pay more money to complete the virtual golf circuit. Tiger Woods is not a party to this complaint.
     Keith Casella sued EZ Corp. for the class, in Monmouth County Court.
     The game, which sells for $59.99, allows customers playing in "career" mode to accumulate points and increase their rankings through performance, giving them the power to buy virtual equipment and upgrade their skills.
     At issue the "downloadable content" feature, which is distributed through the Internet and released separately from the main video game. The extra, downloadable content tracks cost $15 to $35, according to the complaint.
     Casella says EA sells the games by claiming that "players can participate in a succession of golf tournaments, particularly the famed Augusta Masters tournament, as well as 14 additional courses." But it never told customers that buying the game would give them access to all of the courses in the Tiger 12 program that players needed to complete the career tract.
     "This undisclosed policy frustrates the legitimate expectations of purchasers of TW 12 who had no reason to believe that they would be unable to complete all of the TW12 courses in 'career' mode," Casella says.
     He seeks class damages for breach of contract, breach of warranty and consumer fraud. He is represented by Bruce Greenberg with Lite DePalma Greenberg of Newark.  

Sean Avery: Hockey Star Arrested On Battery Charge - ABC News

Hot sport news about Sean Avery: Hockey Star Arrested On Battery Charge from ABC News
Rangers hockey star Sean Avery was arrested early this morning on a battery charge after a noise complaint call to a home in the Hollywood Hills went awry, police said.

The famous forward allegedly pushed an officer who responded to the noise complaint at a home on the 8000 block of Highland Trail at about 12:30 a.m., police added.

Avery was booked in the Hollywood station jail and released on $20,000 bail, according to Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Sara Faden.

Police wouldn't confirm some additional details surrounding the arrest. However, TMZ, which first broke the story, reported that Avery was throwing a loud party at his home and hurled insults at officers when they came to the door, shoving a responding officer and slamming the door closed. Police knocked again and Avery cooperated, according to TMZ.




Police would only say the officer was not injured during the confrontation that led to the arrest.

Rangers spokesman John Rosasco, in a prepared statement, said, "We will discuss the matter with Sean and have no further comment at this time."

Avery's publicist declined to comment.

Avery is widely known for his "sloppy seconds" outburst in 2008, when he chastised fellow NHL players for falling in love with his former girlfriends.

Avery was suspended from the league for a time and went to anger management treatment.

He has infuriated many with his aggressive acts on the ice, even prompting the NHL to tighten rules to prevent acts such as a playoff game incident in which he repeatedly waved his stick in front of New Jersey Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur's face.

Most recently, Avery grabbed national headlines in May for a video he posted online supporting gay marriage in New York.

Avery spent several hours in jail and was released at 8:10 a.m., dressed casually in a form-fitting black t-shirt. He walked briskly from the jail, got in the backseat of a black car with tinted windows, and drove away.

Hiroshima Remembers Bombing Amid Nuclear Crisis - CTV.ca

 Hot news about Hiroshima Remembers Bombing Amid Nuclear Crisis from CTV.ca
Against the backdrop of the Atomic Bomb Dome, paper lanterns float down along Motoyasu River at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011. (AP / Koji Sasahara)

HIROSHIMA, Japan — The Japanese city of Hiroshima on Saturday marked the 66th anniversary of the bombing, as the nation fights a different kind of disaster from atomic technology -- a nuclear plant in a meltdown crisis after being hit by a tsunami.

The site of the world's first A-bomb attack observed a moment of silence at 8:15 a.m. Saturday (2315 GMT Friday) -- the time the bomb was dropped on Aug. 6, 1945, by the United States in the last stages of World War II.

The bomb destroyed most of the city and killed as many as 140,000 people. A second atomic bombing Aug. 9 that year in Nagasaki killed tens of thousands more and prompted the Japanese to surrender.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Saturday laid a wreath of yellow flowers at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and reiterated Japan's promise to never repeat the horrors of Hiroshima, whose suffering continues today because of illnesses passed down over generations.

Japan has long vowed never to make or possess nuclear weapons, but embraced nuclear power as it aimed to rebuild and modernize after the war.

Crowds of people clutching Buddhist prayer beads bowed their heads Saturday in commemorating the dead as pigeons were released during the solemn gathering repeated every year before the skeletal dome of a bomb-ravaged building.

The prime minister, in his speech, also touched on Japan's more recent nuclear catastrophe at the northeastern Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, where a massive tsunami set off by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake on March 11 knocked out backup generators that powered the plant's cooling mechanisms.

Kan repeated a promise to embrace renewable energy and rely less on nuclear power.

"Japan is also working to revise its energy policy from scratch," Kan said. "I deeply regret believing in the security myth of nuclear power."

Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui stopped short of calling for a nation without nuclear power while retierating his pledge to work toward a world without atomic weapons.

But he acknowledged that the trust people had in the safety of nuclear power had been damaged.

"Some seek to abandon nuclear power altogether with the belief that Mankind cannot co-exist with nuclear energy, while others demand stricter regulation of nuclear power and more renewable energy," he said.

Bloomberg Deputy Hired With Much Fanfare Steps Down - New York Times

 Latest news about Bloomberg Deputy Hired With Much Fanfare Steps Down from New York Times

By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ and MICHAEL BARBARO

Stephen Goldsmith, a high-profile deputy to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg who came under fire for the city’s poor response to a crippling blizzard in December, announced on Thursday that he would leave his position after just 14 months in office.

Mr. Goldsmith, a former mayor of Indianapolis, was brought in by Mr. Bloomberg last year with much fanfare: a Harvard professor and expert in innovation poached from the ivory tower to reinvent city government.

But Mr. Goldsmith never seemed to master the day-to-day mechanics of New York’s sprawling government or relish the political intricacies of the job, and dissatisfaction with his performance became widespread in City Hall, according to two aides to Mr. Bloomberg who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of angering the mayor.

Mr. Goldsmith informed Mr. Bloomberg of his resignation this week. He is being replaced by Caswell F. Holloway, the commissioner of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.

The departure is another setback for the mayor’s effort to bring fresh-faced outsiders — like Mr. Goldsmith and the publishing executive Cathleen P. Black, who briefly served as schools chancellor — into his administration to energize his third term.

In a statement, Mr. Goldsmith said he was leaving the administration to return to academic work and to pursue opportunities in the financial sector, though he has not yet lined up a job. Friends described his resignation as abrupt; he had been scheduling meetings and discussing policy proposals as recently as last week.

Mr. Goldsmith did not respond to interview requests on Thursday. “The change will provide me, at age 64, with more flexibility for me and my family and a secure foundation for our future,” he said in the statement.

Mr. Goldsmith, like Ms. Black, was seen by Mr. Bloomberg as a bold choice who could help shape what has seemed at times to be an unfocused third term. Instead, both of them clashed with those they supervised, struggled to master their jobs and became the subject of open sniping in City Hall.

Mr. Goldsmith’s position, as deputy mayor of operations, made him responsible for the city agencies by which New Yorkers measure the efficiency of their government: police, fire, transportation, sanitation and buildings.

His most visible moment on the job was also perhaps his lowest: he became the face of the city’s lackluster response to the Dec. 26 snowstorm. Many of the top city officials, including Mr. Bloomberg, were out of town during the storm. Mr. Goldsmith had been at his home in the Georgetown section of Washington, and on the evening of the snowstorm, he posted a message on his Twitter feed praising city workers, which many snowbound New Yorkers saw as out of touch. “Good snow work,” he wrote.

At a raucous City Council hearing after the blizzard, Mr. Goldsmith apologized several times and acknowledged wide-ranging mistakes.

From the day he took office in June 2010, Mr. Goldsmith, who regarded himself as a management guru but knew little about New York’s vast bureaucracy, repeatedly frustrated his colleagues, according to interviews with City Hall aides and advisers.

In his first major labor move, Mr. Goldsmith overruled the advice of some longtime city officials by announcing plans to demote 100 supervisors from the Sanitation Department and return them to the front lines.

The decision had two immediate consequences. It infuriated the head of the sanitation workers union, Harry Nespoli, who, as the leader of the powerful Municipal Labor Council, plays a crucial role in the city’s labor relations. And it angered the work force responsible for clearing snow just weeks before the blizzard.

Mr. Nespoli said Mr. Goldsmith had failed to listen to his warnings about low staffing levels and morale in the Sanitation Department. “You don’t come in and say, ‘I was in Indianapolis, and this is what we did there,’ ” he said. “That doesn’t work in New York.”

City Hall aides complained that, in meetings, Mr. Goldsmith emphasized management theory over political pragmatism. As a result, they said, conversations devolved at times into convoluted academic discussions that resolved little.

When City Hall staff members met to discuss the growing public outcry over the reconstruction of a major roadway in the Bronx, which was hurting beloved local trees, Mr. Goldsmith engaged in a discourse about eliminating risk in government. Those in the room were befuddled, according to people with knowledge of the meeting.

In some cases, Mr. Goldsmith’s decisions proved problematic enough that they were overturned, as when he removed financing from the city’s latest budget for new waste management stations. The stations were the linchpin of a citywide trash removal program that the Bloomberg administration had spent years fighting for. After environmentalists and local advocacy groups learned of the budget cut and complained, it was reversed by Mr. Bloomberg.

Some City Hall aides also said they were surprised that Mr. Goldsmith continued to divide his time between New York and Washington, and bought a home in the city just several months ago.

Mr. Goldsmith’s victories included a major consolidation of information technology and real estate operations and the creation of a Web site to allow city residents to submit ideas on cutting costs.

Some city officials found his style refreshing. Councilman Peter F. Vallone Jr. of Queens, who grilled Mr. Goldsmith at the blizzard hearing, praised his directness. “Forgetting about the merits of what happened, he was a very stand-up guy,” Mr. Vallone said. “He took the brunt of our questioning, and he answered honestly.”

With the appointment of Mr. Holloway, 37, Mr. Bloomberg seems to be signaling a return to traditional, hands-on management by the city’s operations chief.

Mr. Holloway worked for four years as chief of staff to Mr. Goldsmith’s predecessor, Edward Skyler, who was credited with deft crisis management during his tenure and widely missed in City Hall.

Mr. Bloomberg and Mr. Goldsmith bonded during a meeting in Mr. Goldsmith’s office at Harvard in spring 2010. It was there that Mr. Bloomberg, encouraged by his aides, began to court Mr. Goldsmith, a former adviser to George W. Bush, for a job in the city.

Mr. Goldsmith was immediately intrigued by the challenge, and by all indications, he seemed prepared to stay until the end of Mr. Bloomberg’s third term.

“One has only a small opportunity in life to do things like this,” Mr. Goldsmith said in an interview earlier this year. “Every second you can be doing things, changing things, fixing things. Making life better for New Yorkers is why I’m here.

“I wasn’t invited by the mayor here to have a good time. I’ve been given this opportunity to make a difference, and so I’ve got to slug that out every day.”

David W. Chen contributed reporting.

The Weather Channel Rides Out The Storm With Its Highest Numbers Ever - Kansas City Star

By NEAL JUSTIN

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

LOS ANGELES - It's been the worst year for extreme weather since Noah had to build an ark - unless you've invested in the Weather Channel.

Tornadoes, droughts, subzero temperatures and heat waves have already brought boffo numbers to the cable outlet, with hurricane season right around the corner.

"It's all about extremes," said meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, who co-hosts a morning show with Al Roker.

Nearly 46 million people followed the network's coverage on TV or online during the freeze that covered a third of the country on Groundhog Day, and nearly 50 million relied on its services when tornadoes devastated Joplin, Mo.

It wasn't long ago when the Weather Channel didn't go anywhere beyond the coffee room in its Georgia-based studio. When it was launched in 1982, coverage was limited to maps and radar screens, with anchors ticking off temperatures as if they were reading stock market numbers. Today, top personalities hopscotch around the world, trying to get to locations right before storms hit.

Abrams said she's collected enough miles this year to qualify as a diamond member of Delta's frequent-flier program. Jim Cantore, a Weather Channel veteran with 25 years on the job, said he's been in the studio for a solid week only twice this year. They also produce documentaries and series with names such as "Storm Riders" and "From the Edge."

Reporting from the eye of the storm has become big business.

"When I first started, it was a little easier to find places to park a satellite truck," Cantore said. "Now there are dozens of trucks on the scene."

The team scoffs at images of weather folks holding onto trees in a roaring hurricane or chasing tornadoes. Safety first. But Abrams said being on the scene makes her a stronger advocate for viewers.

"I know what it's like to live on Pop-Tarts and Sun Chips, so you can empathize with people because we've lived it, too," she said.

The Weather Channel team doesn't believe interest in weather will cool down anytime soon. Walker predicts there will be at least one catastrophic hurricane this year and Cantore said the world's climate changes will continue to be extreme.

"The question is: Have we tipped the bucket over?" he said. "Is there anything we can do to turn the climate back? That we just don't know."

Neal Justin: njustin@startribune.com

Gabrielle Giffords 'disappointed' At US Debt Ceiling Row After Congress Return - The Guardian

Lizzy Davies

Gabrielle Giffords on the floor of the House of Representatives. Photograph: AP

Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona politician who was shot in the head in January, said she had been "deeply disappointed" by the party political wrangling that brought the US to the brink of an unprecedented default, after her return to Congress for a vote on the debt-ceiling bill.

To rapturous applause from both Republicans and Democrats, the convalescent congresswoman appeared in the House of Representatives with minutes left before the end of the vote, walking unsteadily and mouthing "thank you" to those who had leapt to their feet to welcome her back, including the Vice-President Joe Biden and the Tea Party favourite Michele Bachmann.

Such a show of unity had been rare in the weeks leading to the vote, a fact Giffords, a Democrat, observed in a statement released afterwards.

"I have closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and have been deeply disappointed at what's going on in Washington. I strongly believe that crossing the aisle for the good of the American people is more important than party politics," she said.

Giffords, who is still undergoing outpatient therapy, added: "I had to be here for this vote. I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy."

Her vote in favour of the bill was one of 269 that sent it through the House with a hefty majority. Hers was without doubt the most enthusiastically greeted.

"It was one of the most thrilling moments for all of us to see this real heroine return to the House and to do so at such a dramatic time," said the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, who welcomed Giffords back with what she called "girl hugs".

On the House floor, Pelosi paid tribute to a woman she called "the personification of courage, of sincerity, of admiration throughout the country".

She said: "There isn't a name that stirs more love, more admiration, more respect. Thank you, Gabby."

Leaning on an aide and with her once-blonde hair cropped and brown, Giffords appeared strikingly different from when she was sworn in as a third-term congresswoman in January. Days after that, she narrowly escaped death in a shooting spree during a "Congress on Your Corner" gathering in the car park of a Tucson supermarket. Six people were killed; Jared Lee Loughner has been charged with the attack – in May was declared unfit for trial.

At the vote, Giffords was accompanied by her husband, Mark Kelly, an astronaut who announced his retirement from Nasa in June, citing his wife's medical needs.

Politicians of both parties paid tribute to Giffords's courage. "She is a model for the attitude that we should all have because she is tenacious and she is relentless in her love for America. You were missed and we're glad to have you back," said the Texas Republican Ted Poe.

Biden told the Associated Press after the vote: "She's remarkable. She's the embodiment of a strong, strong, strong woman. Think about what that woman's been through, and think about her determination."

Late on Monday, a message was posted on Giffords's Twitter feed. "The Capitol looks beautiful," it read. "And I am honored to be at work tonight."

Culinary SOS: Famous Dave's Mac 'n' Cheese - Sacramento Bee

Question: Would you get me the recipe for mac 'n' cheese from Famous Dave's? Thank you.

Answer: Famous Dave's was happy to share its creative and creamy version of this classic comfort food. Enjoy.

Famous Dave's mac 'n' cheese

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Servings: 8 to 12

Note: Adapted from Famous Dave's.

2 tablespoons butter, plus 1/4 cup (1/2 stick), divided

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

3/4cup half-and-half

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

4 ounces aged white cheddar cheese, shredded

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

11/2 cups sweet corn niblets

2 jalapenos, finely chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1 pound jumbo elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cubed

8 ounces Colby cheese, cubed

1/2 cup cracker crumbs

1/2 cup panko (Japanese-style) bread crumbs

1/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large, heavy-bottom pot over medium heat. Whisk the flour into the butter until thoroughly combined to form a roux. Slowly whisk in the milk, then the half-and-half. Whisk in the mustard, barbecue sauce, salt and pepper.

3. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook, whisking constantly, 8 to 10 minutes to develop the flavors. Whisk in the white cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Stir in the corn, jalapenos and parsley, then remove from heat.

4. Stir in the macaroni, then the cubed sharp cheddar and Colby cheeses. Spoon the macaroni and cheese into a buttered 13-by-9-inch baking dish.

5. Melt the remaining one-quarter cup of butter in a small sauce pan. In a medium bowl, combine the cracker, panko and unseasoned bread crumbs with the melted butter. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the macaroni and cheese.

6. Bake the mac 'n' cheese until bubbly and browned on top, about 40 minutes.

Each of 12 servings: 530 calories; 21 grams protein; 43 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 30 grams fat; 18 grams saturated fat; 86 mg cholesterol; 4 grams sugar; 691 mg sodium

Marisa Miller's Beach Body Revealed Photo - Post Chronicle

Marisa Miller showed off her tight and skinny supermodel body in a black string bikini yesterday. The 32-year-old Victoria Secret model showed off all of her curves.

Her bust was busting, and her bottom bikini was so small it looked like it was falling off. Little was left to the imagination as she slubbed around with a young Colonel Sanders...I mean her husband Griffin Guess.

Marisa reportedly has a 23inch waist and stands at 5ft 8inches. She let her long blonde hair down and did her best to get a brown tan at the beach.

So how does she keep her body in beach body condition? Her secret is organic fruits and veggies along with lean protein and whole grains. No special diet here. (c) tPC

For a bigger photo - CLICK HERE

Apple's ICloud Portal Goes Live As Beta Site - PC Magazine

• August 1, 2011 09:46pm EST

Apple went live with its iCloud website Monday but the new portal for the company's big cloud-based services push appears to still be a work-in-progress. Access to the site is reportedly available only to existing MobileMe customers on Mac OS X desktops and notebooks.

Another big hint that iCloud.com isn't precisely ready for prime time—the prominent yellow "beta" banner attached to the log-in screen.

While some MobileMe users are reporting the ability to log into iCloud.com, where they can then access working apps, others are prompted to move their existing MobileMe mail, contacts, calendar, and bookmarks over to iCloud with a popup window that doesn't appear to be functional, according to AppleInsider.

A first attempt by PCMag editors to simply log into the site on a Mac met with no success other than a screen promising that iCloud is "coming soon." Later, when we tried installing the latest iOS update on an iPhone before a second try, our log in attempt on iCloud.com was still a no-go.

That may be because the insides of the new iCloud site haven't yet been made available to iOS devices, according to AppleInsider. Other iPad and iPhone users can access the iCloud.com landing page but apparently get stuck on the same "coming soon" screen we ourselves did.

"MobileMe Web apps are currently blocked from iOS mobile users, apparently because Apple's mobile browser does not support the 'real web' well enough to work acceptably with them," according to the site. "This prevents iOS users from accessing a secondary account."

Piecing together reports from around the Web, it seems only MobileMe customers using Macs with OS X Lion installed can get inside iCloud.com, and it's not entirely clear if those are the only criteria required.

Tablets and smartphones running Google's Android and other non-iOS mobile operating systems are also apparently able to access the "coming soon" screen which prompts visitors to "download the iOS native apps," though no such apps exist for those devices.

In the very early going, iCloud.com appears to be aimed only at developers, according to 9to5Mac.

"Apple has just opened up the iCloud.com Web interface for developers," the site reports. "The website is in beta and features all new Web apps for Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and more. In addition, it appears that iCloud.com will offer a portal for users to view their iWork documents that are stored in the cloud via iCloud. On top of all of this, Find my iPhone is an integrated Web application."

The first user to report successfully logging into Apple's new iCloud service was Rafael Fischmann of the Brazilian MacMagazine blog, according to AppleInsider.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

Lake Wales To Address Noise, Sewers, Transit - News Chief

Published: Monday, August 1, 2011 at 6:31 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 1, 2011 at 6:31 a.m.

LAKE WALES - City commissioners, in Tuesday's meeting, are expected to address issues of noise, sewers, transportation and restaurant seating in the downtown.

In a workshop before the meeting, the City Commission is also expected to discuss possible regulation of "pill mills" and the need to inspect and test water customers' backflow preventers.

The workshop starts at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting is at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall.

NOISE

Loud car stereos driving past Mayor Mike Carter's house late at night prompted a revamp of the city ordinance.

It is modeled after a state law recently struck down as unconstitutional by the 2nd District Court of Appeal for not being "content neutral" and for making exemptions for political or commercial messages.

On July 19, city commissioners asked staff to correct such problems in the city ordinance and bring it back for a vote.

SEWER

The city has had problems with sewers in the C Street area for some time, including flushing manholes, lines running above ground and sewage backing up into at least one resident's house.

An estimated cost for the fix is $2.12 million, said City Manager Judy Delmar, and the city has only $1.06 million allocated for the project.

The commission will consider using $250,000 of the sewer project funds to get a $750,000 community development block grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The grant could reduce the amount of money the city would need to borrow for the project, Delmar said.

WHAT

The Winter Haven Area Transit System provides transportation service to six cities, including Lake Wales.

The Polk Transit Authority is going ahead with plans to consolidate local transit services into one service despite the failure of funding tax measure last year.

Under an interlocal agreement, Lake Wales pays part of the cost of WHAT to maintain its current level of service.

The Transit Authority expects some cost increases starting Oct. 1, but Lake Wale's $5,433 share will remain the same.

'PILL MILLS'

As part of a workshop, city commissioners will discuss whether to pursue an ordinance governing pain management clinics in an effort to fight or prevent illegal prescription clinics.

So-called "pill mill" clinics are a major concern for local governments since many have been operating in Central Florida.

BACKFLOW

As part of a workshop, city commissioners will discuss how the city can make sure commercial and irrigation water customers have devices in their plumbing that prevent water from flowing back into the city water system.

OUTDOOR SEATING

Smokey's Piano Bar, 216 Stuart Ave., is requesting to have two tables on the sidewalk out front for customers.

The Lake Wales Planning and Zoning Board approved the request July 26, and the City Commission is expected to vote on the matter Tuesday.

phil.attinger@newschief.com